ITIA (International Tennis Integrity Agency) reports that it has found “inconsistencies” in Simona Halep’s biological passport. The news spread instantly, and the most important newspapers covered the subject extensively.

>> Simona Halep’s stormy reaction after ITIA’s accusations of a new violation of the anti-doping program

L’Équipe: “Simone Halep is again suspected of doping”.

BBC: “Two-time Grand Slam winner Halep is accused of violating anti-doping rules for the second time.

Simona is one of the most important tennis players ever to fail a doping test, and the most famous since Maria Sharapova (not since 2016).”

The Guardian: “We’re dealing with allegations of irregularities in Simona Halep’s biological passport.”

Tennis.com: “Simone Halep violated anti-doping rules again”

Gazzetta dello Sport: “New problems with Simona Halep, this time they are revealed in the biological passport.”

• The program for athletes’ biological passports collects and compares data (periodic blood tests) to detect discrepancies over time that may suggest possible doping, writes the BBC.

What is a biological passport?

According to the official website of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), the Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) monitors certain “biological parameters” that indirectly detect the effects of doping.

“The fundamental principle of the Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) is to monitor certain biological variables that indirectly reveal the effects of doping, instead of trying to detect the substance or method of doping itself,” WADA said, according to News.ro. .

Anti-doping organizations can integrate the biological passport into the broader framework of a strong anti-doping program to:

• to identify athletes who need additional attention through intelligent and timely interpretation of passport data. ABP provides valuable information that can be used to more effectively manage anti-doping activities such as targeted testing or investigations

• to prosecute possible Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) under Article 2.2 (Use or Attempted Use by an Athlete of a Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method) of the World Anti-Doping Code (Code).

Simona Halep’s hearing in the doping case is possible on May 28

In the above interview with Tennis Majors, Simona said at one point that she has a hearing scheduled for May 28, but the ITF, which has already rejected her testimony and request to lift the suspension, may request that the hearing be canceled. It remains to be seen what will happen at that point.

The ITIA sets out the steps that are usually followed in the following doping cases: testing / samples sent to the laboratory / analysis report / analysis of the results / contact with the player / provisional suspension / accusation of the athlete / player response / player fully admits / player admits only in part / decision and sanction / player rejects / court / court decision and sanction / appeal.

• The news that Simona Halep was temporarily suspended for doping appeared on Friday, October 21, 2022.

Know:

• Simona Halep is temporarily suspended from tennis due to a positive test for Roxadustat (conducted during the US Open 2022).

• Simona’s case will be heard by Sport Resolutions, an independent court in London that hears doping cases in white sport.

• However, if innocence cannot be proven, Simone has one more appeal: the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne.

• It will be recalled that the maximum suspension that Halep could receive is 4 years.